Barrel-washing machine.



No. 678,613. Patented idly l6, l90l.

- C. J. DDBLEB.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct 8, 1900.;

3 Sheets$heet I.

(No Modem WITNESSES A TTOHNE Y8 rm: clings, PEYERS co, rue-mums wunmuromb. c.

No. 678,6l3.

Patented July [6, I901].

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1900.)

3 Shsets$heet 2.

(No Model.)

v r m m m AI ,4 V H m w m J m N n E v V u A a 4 mm l luh W k A @255 mm m fi 4M k r h E r. m a B 1% m r n A z 5 I W 7 M m. m Q & K. 7 J A 1\ J a 6 M R N/ I m m WITNESSES m: uonms PEYERS c0. mmuwo. wnsmncton. u. c.

PaFented July l6, mm.

No. 678,6l3.

B. J. DOBLER.

BARREL WASHING MACHINE.

{Application filed Oct. 8, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

IN VE N TOR 050210; .ffloiier A TTOH Yb Warren Starr s ATFNT Prion.

CHARLES J. DOBLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BARREL-WASHING MACHINE.

IEEGIE1EGATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,613, dated July 16, 1 901. Application filed October 8, 1900. Serial No. 32,417. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. DOBLER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhat tan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Barrell/Vashing Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

One purpose of my invention is to provide a machine for cleaning barrels and kegs in which but a single tank is employed, the machine being so constructed that the barrels or kegs may be soaked and partially filled in the tank and subsequently exteriorly cleaned and interiorly rinsed outside of the tank, the water contained in said kegs being received by the tank.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a circulation of water through the tank and means for heating the water to a certain extent, thus maintaining the water in the tank of the machine in a comparatively clear state.

A further purpose of the invention is to so construct the machine that it will require a minimum quantity of Water, so that the water in the operation of the machine will not be liable to splash upon the flooring or other support for the machine.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a table which will receive the kegs or barrels that have been soaked and partially filled with water and deliver the kegs or barrels partially filled to an agitating and scrubbing mechanism for the exterior, from which mechanism the barrels or kegs are delivered to supports from which said barrels or kegs may be conveniently and expeditiously removed and placed upon adjacent sprinklers forming a portion of the machine.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of that portion of the machine at which the kegs are received to be exteriorly cleansed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken practically on the line 3 Set Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the stops for the kegs, located in frontof an elevating-table for the kegs or barrels. Fig. 5 is a rear View of the stop shown in Fig. 4 illustrating in dotted lines a lower position of the stop. Fig. 6 is a vertical section through one of the sprinklers. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 8 is a detail view drawn on a large scale and illustrating the manner in which the scrubbing or cleaning brushes are supported in the machine, and Fig. 9 is a vertical section through'one of the supporting- Wheels for the keg or barrel when the keg or barrel is to be held in position for exterior scrubbing.

A represents the body portion of the machine, which body portion is in the form of a tank. The body may be of any desired. length and width and may be supported upon a floor or other surface in any suitable or approved manner. Near the rear end of the tank or body a chamber B is formed, open at the top and having an inclined bottom, and the keg that is to be exteriorly cleaned is supported above this chamber in a manner to be hereinafter described. This chamber B is pro vided at its bottom with an outlet 10, adapted for connection with a sewer or other means for discharging the water which may collect in the chamber B, entering said chamber through a pipe 10 located in a side or end of the chamber near the top. The pipe 10, as shown in Fig. 1, is preferably in the shape of an elbow, so that its discharge end, which is within the chamber 3, may face upward or downward.

When large kegs or barrels are to be washed and cleaned, the elbow 10 has its outlet facing upward, as shown in Fig. 1; but when small kegs or barrels are to be operate-d upon the outlet end of the elbow 10 may face downward. The barrels or kegs rest upon rails 11, and these rails arepreferably secured at one of their ends to the upper edge of the tank A, at thefront portion of said tank, and incline downward and rearward to a point near the bottom of the tank, being then carried horizontally to a point near the chamber B, so that each of the said supports 11 has a front inclined section 12, and the kegs or barrels are placed upon the rails at their inclined portions 12, but roll down upon the horizontal or main portions, as shown in Fig. 1. These supports or rails 11, which are practically tracks, are held at their rear ends by suitable standards 13, attached to the tracks and suitably secured to the bottom of the tank A.

The barrels or kegs are guided in their movement from the forward end of the tank to a point near the said chamber B by rails 14, which are usually in the shape of angleirons and are located one near each side of the forward portion of the tank A, parallel with the said sides. These guides 14 are adj ustable, so that they may be accommodated to any size of keg or barrel, and to that end the guides 14 are pivotally connected by links 15 with the sides of the tank. The rear links are provided with handles 16, through the medium of which the tracks may be moved to and from each other, and the handles 16 are provided with pins which are adapted to enter any one of a series of apertures 18, produced in racks 17, secured in a suitable manner to the side portions of the tank, as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, and 7.

The tank A is preferably enlarged at its rear end, as shown in Fig. 7, and the water in the tank is circulated through the medium of a pipe 19, which is laid in the tank near one of its sides and extends from the forward portion of the tank preferably to a point beneath the chamber B. The forward end 19 of this circulating-pipe extends upward, as

shown in Fig. 1, being first carried horizontally from the body portion of the pipe, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The said circulatingpipe 19 at its rear end is closed by a cap 19 and the pipe adjacent to this cap has perforations 19 produced therein, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. An injector 19 is connected with the circulating-pipe 19 atapoint near its forward or upturned end, and this injector is connected with any convenient source of steam-supply and forces the steam in direction of the forward outlet end of the said circulating-pipe, so that the Water at the forward portion of the tank is rendered quite warm, and the water is forced in direction of the rear end of the tank, where the water will I enter the circulating-pipe through the perforations 19, owing to the suction created by the injector. It will thus be observed the water in the tank A will be very warm at the forward portion of the tank, at which portion the kegs or barrels are partially filled and soaked.

The barrels F are held for a desired length of time in the forward portion of the tank A, so that their exterior may be properly soaked and their interior receive a sufficient quantity of water to cleanse the said interior of the kegs or barrels through the medium of stops 0. These stops are located at the rear ends of the tracks 11 and are best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The tracks or supports 11 are usually tubular, as illustrated, and the stops (J consist of angle-bars 20, the horizontal sec tions of which enter the tracks or supports 11 and are attached to and held in the supports by means of springs 21, which springs tend to hold the body portions of the stops 0 in the vertical position shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 7 and so that the said body portions may engage with the-rear side of the rearmost keg or barrel F on the supports 11, as particularly shown in Fig. 7.

The body portions of the stops 0 are provided with angular extensions 21, adapted to be engaged by an elevating-table for the kegs or barrels, to be hereinafter described, which elevating-table upon descending will engage with the angle-bars 20 and carry the stops 0 to one side, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thus permitting the rearmost barrel or keg to take position on the table, and as soon as the table ascends to deliver the keg to the brushes which clean its exterior the springs 21 act to return the stops to their normal position, holding the series of kegs or barrels in proper relation to each other in the soaking and filling portion of the tank A.

The elevating-table D is attached to lazytongs E, having long and short members, so that the table D will be held in an inclined position, dipping in direction of the rear of the machine. The lower members of the lazy-tongs E are connected, respectively, to shafts 22 and 23. These shafts are journaled in suitable bearings 24, secured upon the bottom portion of the tank A, and said shafts 22 and 23 are provided with meshing gears 25. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 7.) The elevat ing-table D is provided at its forward por tion with projections or studs 26, adapted to engage with the projections 21 on the stops 0 when the table descends from an upright to a lower position, as shown in Fig. 5.

Standards 27 are secured on the bottom of the tank A. These standards are placed in front of the chamber 13 and extend above the top of the said chamber, being provided at their upper ends with rearwardly and downwardly extending table-sections 28, as is best shown in Fig. 1, and when the table D is in its upper position the inclination of the table corresponds to the inclination of the table-sections 28 of the standards, and these table-sections of the standards direct the keg or barrel carried by the table D to supporting and agitating wheels to be hereinafter described, located within the chamber B, as shown in Fig. 1.

The stops 0 are prevented from passing a vertical position by forming extensions 29 at the rear ends of the barrel or keg supports or tracks 11, as is shown in Fig. 7, and the table D in its upward movement is guided by forming projections 30 at the rear end of said table, which projections travel in engagement with the inner side faces of the standards 27, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The main driveshaft 31 is located in the chamber B, near the rear wall of said chamber, and the shaft carries at one of its ends fast and loose pulleys 32. The drive-shaft 31 further carries supporting-wheels 33, which are secured to the shaft within the chamber B, one at each side of the center of said shaft, the said supporting-wheels 33 being eccentrically mounted on the drive-shaft, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. A short shaft 34 is likewise located in the chamber B, being mounted in brackets 35, attached to the forward wall of said chamber, and on the short shaft 34 a single supporting-wheel 36 is concentrically mounted, said supporting-wheel 36 being opposite the space between the pair of supporting-wheels 33 on the drive-shaft. The detail construction of these supporting-wheels ,will be hereinafter described, and said wheels are termed supporting-wheels because they are adapt= ed to receive and support a keg or barrel F, which has been partially filled with water and soaked, and which is delivered to thesaid supporting-wheels by the upward action of the table D.

An arch 37 is secured to the tank A, extending over the central portion of the chamber B. This arch 37 supports a horizontal pipe 38, and this pipe 38 is supplied with water from any suitable source and is provided with branches 39, which extend downward and terminate in horizontal nozzles 40, in which nozzles a plug-valve 41 or its equivalentis located. These nozzles direct streams of water to the ends of the barrels or kegs which are carried by the supporting-wheels 33 and 36, and owing to the eccentric attachment of the wheels 33 on the drive-shaft the keg or barrel is given a reciprocating movement while on the supporting-wheels, as well as a rotary movement, so that the water contained in the barrel or keg thus supported is made to thoroughly wash the inside of the keg, and the water that is spilled from the bung-hole or end opening in the keg is received in the chamber B and passes out through the outlet 10. Thus the water in the tank A is kept clean.

The pipe 38 is placed at such an elevation that it is above the top of the keg or barrel, and said pipe is provided with a series of apertures 42, whereby the water will be sprayed upon the exterior side portions of the keg or barrel being treated.

A brush 43 is placed Within the upper portion of the arch 37, and said brush is curved to conform to the exterior curvature of the exterior surface of the barrel or keg. This brush 43 is connected with an upright 44, held to slide in a suitable guideway at the'top of the central portion of the arch, and the connection between the said upright 44 and the brush is made by substantially a universal coupling 43. The upright 44 is provided with a series of notches 45 in one of its side faces, engaged by a gravity-pawl 47, carried by the arch, so that the brush 43 may be vertically adjusted to bear upon a keg or barrel of any size. The brush 43 when it is in a vertical position is stopped in its further movement by a projection 46, (shown in Fig. 1,) located on the upright 44.

Two brushes 48 are employed adapted for engagement with the ends or heads of the keg or barrel being cleaned. These brushes 48 are each connected with a rod 50 by a substantially universal coupling 49, as is best shown in Fig. 8, and the rods 50 are held to slide in tubular casings 51, attached to and extending out from the sides of the arch 37, as is shown in Fig. 3. A spring 52 is attached to each of the rods 50 at one end, and said springs are coiled around said rods, and their opposite ends are attached in any desired manner to the casings 51. The springs 52 are torsional springs and tend to hold the side brushes 48 against the ends of the keg or barrel while it is agitated by the supportingwheels. The keg or barrel when placed on the supporting-wheels over the chamber B is not only given a movement in a vertical direction, but likewise an end movement in a direction at an angle to a perpendicular line drawn through the center of the keg or barrel. The side brushes 48 are provided with weights 48, which tend to hold the brushes 48 in a vertical position when out of engagement with a keg or barrel, and when the keg or barrel is forced from these supporting- Wheels by another barrel, carried up by the table D, as shown in Fig. 1, the brushes are prevented from moving rearward and, following the movement of the keg or barrel, leaving its support by means of the peculiar construction of the coupling 49, as shown in Fig. 8, in which it will be observed that the memher a of the coupling, connected with a side brush 48, is provided with a straight surface a, which meets a curved surface G3, and the straight surface a engages with a corresponding surface 01 formed on that member of the coupling 49 which is carried by the rod 50.

A sprocket-wheel 53 is secured to one end of the drive-shaft 31, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and this sprocket-Wheel is connected by abelt 54 with a larger wheel 55, and this wheel 55 is mounted upon the outer end of a stub-axle 57, which axle is secured to a plate 57, attached to a side of the tank A, and the hub of the wheel 55 has a clutch connection 56 with the hub of a pinion 58, mounted to turn on the same stub-axle 57, so that should any accident happen to the larger wheel 55 the said wheel can be readily replaced.

The pinion 58 meshes with alarge gear 59, which is mounted on a stub-axle 60, extending from the opposite end of the plate 57, and a substantially semicircular cam-groove 61 is madein the inner face of the gear 59, as is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the inner portion of the groove 61, or that portion which is close to the axle 60, being curved in opposite directions from its center. An arni 62is attached to the shaft 22, connected with the lazy-tongs E, and the opposite end of this arm is free to. move and is provided with a pin or roller 62, which travels in the said cam- IIO - rearmost barrel or keg that has been soaking,

and this barrel or keg rolls from the table D and forces the barrel or keg being agitated and exteriorly cleaned away from the cleaning mechanism, and when the table D is again lowered the stops Care forced to one side, and the next rearmost barrel will roll upon the tableD. \Vhen the barrel is on the table, the stops 0 will return to their normal position after the table has been raised and will prevent barrels or kegs at the front portion of the tank from moving.

At the rear portion of the tank A, as shown in Fig. 7, longitudinal rails 63 are secured at each side of the center of the longitudinal center of the tank, extending from the top of the chamber B to the rear wall of the tank, and transverse rails 64 are likewise provided at this point in the tank, extending from one side to the other. A pipe 65 is located between the transverse rails 64, the pipe being connected with any source of water-supply, and a branch pipe 65 is connected with said pipe 65, the branch pipe extending to the rear portion of the tank A between the longitudinal rails 63.

At each end of the pipe 65 and at the rear end of the pipe 65 a sprinkler G is located. One of these sprinklers is shown in detail in Fig. 6, and consists of a conical inner casing 67, which is secured to the pipe 65, for example, the interior of the casing 67 having communication with the pipe 65, and the top 68 of the casing completely closes its upper portion; but in one side of this casing 67 at the top an outlet-opening 69 is produced. An intermediate casing 70 is mounted to turn around the inner casing 67 and extend above the top thereof, and this intermediate casing 70 is provided with two openings 71 and 72 in one side, the opening 71 being so placed that in one position of the intermediate cas ing 70 the opening 71 will be in communication with the space in the intermediate casing above the top of the inner casing, while the lower opening 72 will at the same time be in communication with the outlet-opening 69 of the inner casing.

An outer casing 73 is made to turn with the intermediate casing 70, and. this outer casing 73 is provided with a chamber 74 in one side, the said chamber being adapted to register with both of the openings 71 and 72, so that when the outer and intermediate casings are turned together, bringing the ports or openings 71 and 72 in the position above described, communication is established between the supply-pipe and the upper portion of the intermediate casing and the water is conducted to a nipple 75, which is secured in any suitable or approved manner at the top portion of the intermediate casing 70. This nipple 75 is provided with a number of apertures 76, through which the water can escape in the form of aspray. The outer casing 73 at its top is provided with arms 77, which extend upward, and when the keg is delivered to the rails 63 or 64 said keg is lifted and the nipple 75 is made to pass through the bung-hole, the keg resting on the supportingarms 77, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The keg is placed in this position before the outer casing is turned, and upon giving the outer casing of the sprinkler a quarter or a half turn, as may be determined upon, the water enters the sprinkler and rinses out the inside of the keg.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated in detail the preferredvform of a supporting-wheel for the kegs or barrels. Under this construction the body of the wheel is made in two sections 77 and 78, connected by bolts 79 or their equivalents-,and in the periphery of the two sections channels are out in such manner that when the sections of the body of a Wheel are brought together a peripheral dovetail groove 80 is formed. Each supporting-wheel is provided with a rubber tire 81, having a dovetail inner rib which enters the groove 80, and the tire is held on the wheel by frictional engagement of the said rib with the Walls of the groove 80 which it enters. Such frictional engagement takes place when the fastening devices for the sections of the wheel have been suitably adjusted.

An outlet 82 is provided at the rear end portion of the tank A, which may be connected with any ofttake, the said outlet being adapted to carry off the water and sediment from the tank A when the latter is being cleaned.

It will be observed that the two shafts 3'1 and 34, carrying, respectively, the supporting-wheels 33 and 36, are independent and that the shaft 31 is driven by the mechanism herein set forth, but that the shaft 34 and the supporting-wheel 36, carried thereby, are revolved simply by frictional contact with the keg or barrel F, supported by the above set of wheels, so that when the shaft 31 is stopped from turning the shaft 34 and the wheel carried thereby will also cease to turn.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a barrel-washing machine, a scrubbing device, an inclined track, movable stops for holding a barrel on the track, a transferring device between the tracks and scrubbing device, and means controlled by the transferring device for moving the stops out of the path of the barrel to permit it to pass onto the said transferring device, as set forth.

2. In a barrel-washing machine, a scrubbing device, an inclined track, movable stops at the rear ends of the track, a transferring device between the track and scrubbing device, means for raising and lowering the transferring device, and means whereby when the transferring device is lowered the stops will be moved out of the path of the barrel to allow it to pass onto the transferring device, as specified.

3. Ina barrel-washing machine, a scrub-.

bing device, an inclined track, pivoted and spring-pressed stops at the rear end of the track, a transferringtable between the track and scrubbing device, and adapted to engage the stops to swing them laterally, and means for raising and lowering the table, as set forth.

4. In a barrel washing machine, a tank containing a chamber, an inclined track in the tank, movable stops at the inner end of the track, supporting-wheels mounted in the chamber of the tank, brushes for engaging the barrel carried by the supporting-wheels, a transferring-table between the track and supporting wheels, and adapted to engage the said stops to move them out of the path of a barrel, and means for raising and lowering the said table, substantially as described.

5. In a barrel-washing machine, a body in the form of a tank, tracks carried by said body, adapted to receive the barrels or kegs to be soaked and partially filled with water, said tracks having a downward inclination at their forward ends, movable stops at the rear portion of the tracks, a table adapted to receive a barrel or keg said table being adapted to engage the stops to move them out of the path of a barrel onthe tracks, means for raising and lowering said table, a chamber connected with said tank and located therein, supporting Wheels mounted to revolve within the said chamber and arranged to sustain a barrel or keg, a supporting device lo.- cated above the said chamber, and adjustable brushes having a swivel connection with their supports, the brushes being arranged to engage with the side and head portions of a barrel or keg carried by the said supporting-wheels, as set forth.

6. In a barrel-washing machine, a body in the form of a tank, tracks carried by said body, adapted to receive the barrels or kegs to be soaked and partially filled with water, said tracks having a downward inclination at their forward ends, movable stops at the rear portion of the tracks, a table adapted to operate the said stops and to receive a barrel or keg, means for raising and lowering said table, a chamber connected with said tank and located therein, supporting-wheels mounted to revolve in the said chamber and arranged to sustain a barrel or keg, a supporting device located above the said chamber, adjustable brushes havinga swivel connection with their supports, the brushes being arranged to en gage with the side and head portions of a barrel or keg carried by the said supportingwheels, and a water-delivery pipe located above the said chamber, and having extensions directed to the end portions of said chamber at a point above the supportingwheels, as set forth.

7. In a barrelwashing machine, tracks for the barrels having inclined sections, supporting-rollers for a barrel, brushes for engaging the barrel, a transferring-table arranged be:

tween the tracks and supporting-rollers, and means controlled from the shaft of one set of supporting-rollers, for raising and lowering the table, substantially as described.

8; In a machine for washing barrels or kegs, a tank, parallel shafts located within said tank, two supportingwheels eccentrically mounted on one of the shafts, and a third supporting-wheel located upon the opposing shaft, the single wheel being opposite the space between the pair of wheels, as set forth.

9. In a machine for washing barrels or kegs, a tank, parallel shafts j ournaled in said tank, supporting wheels eccentrically mounted upon one of said shafts, a single supportingwheel concentrically mounted upon the opposing shaft, the single wheel being opposite the space between the pair of wheels, a frame connected with the tank, and side and top brushes adjustably mounted in the said frame, the said brushes having a swivel connection with their supports, and means for limiting the movement of the brushes in one direction, as set forth.

10. In a machine for washing barrels or kegs, atanlg parallel shafts j onrnaled in saidtank, two supporting-wheels eccentrically mounted upon one of said shafts, a single wheel concentrically mounted upon the opposing shaft, the single supporting-wheel being opposite the space between the pair of wheels, aframe connected with the tank, side and top brushes adj ustably mounted in said frame,the brushes having a swivel connection with their supports, means for limiting the movement of the brushes in one direction, and a pipe connected with a source of water-supply, supported by said frame and located adjacent to the upper brush, said pipe being provided with downwardly-extending nozzles having their delivery ends facing each other, for the purpose set forth.

11. In a barrel or keg washing machine, supports for the barrel or keg, and brushes adapted for engagement with the exterior of a barrel or keg, yieldingly-mounted supports for the said brushes, and a universal connection between the brushes and theirsupports,

as set forth.

being spring-controlled in a horizontal direction and all of the said brushes having a swivel connection with their supports, an adjusting device for the upper brush, and stops located at the swivel connection between the brushes and their supports, which stops serve to limit the movement of the brushes in certain directions, as described.

13. In abarrelor keg washing machine, the combination, with a tank having a chamber formed therein, provided with a reversible inlet and an outlet, a circulating-pipe located within the tank and provided with an injector adapted for connection with a source of steam-supply, and tracks located in the forward portion. of the said tank, adapted to re ceive the barrels or kegs which are to be filled and soaked, the said tracks being inclined at their forward ends, of adjustable guides for the barrels or kegs, a scrubbing and cleaning mechanism located at the rear of the said tracks and guides, a table located between the scrubbing and cleaning mechanism and the tracks and guides, lazy-tongs connected with said table, and means for raising and lowering said lazy-tongs, as set forth.

14. In a barrel or keg washing machine, the combination, with a tank having a chamber formed therein, provided with a reversible inlet and an outlet, a circulating-pipe located within the tank, provided with an injector adapted for connection with a source of steamsupply, and tracks located at the forward portion of said tank, adapted to receive the barrels or kegs which are to be filled and soaked, the said tracks being inclined at their forward ends, a scrubbing and cleaning mechanism located at the rear of said tracks and guides, a table located between the scrubbing and cleaning mechanism and the tracks and guides, lazy-tongs connected with said table, means for raising and lowering the said lazytongs, guides located at the rear of the lazytongs, having upper inclined sections which extend to the cleaning and scrubbing mechanism, and supports for kegs or barrels lo cated at the rear of the cleaning and scrubbing mechanism, for the purpose set forth.

15. In a machine for cleaning barrels or kegs, a tank, tracks located within the tank adapted to receive the barrels or kegs, the forward ends of which tracks are inclined, stops mountedto turn at the rear ends of the tracks, a washing and scrubbing mechanism, and an elevator comprising a table and lazy-tongs located between the rear ends of the track and the washing and scrubbing mechanism, a trip connection between the elevator and the said stops, and means for raising and lowering the elevator, as described.

16. In a machine for cleaning barrels or kegs, a tank, tracks located within the said tank, adapted to receive the barrels or kegs, the forward ends of which tracks are inclined, stops mounted to turn at the rear ends of the said tracks, a washing and scrubbing mechanism, an elevator comprising a table and lazy-tongs located between the rear ends of the tracks and the washing and scrubbing mechanism, a trip connection between the elevator and the said stops, means for raising and lowering said elevator, guides adapted for engagement with the head portions of thebarrels or kegs located on the said tracks, devices for moving the said guides parallel to or from each other, and a circulating-pipe having an injector connection with a source of steam-supply, which circulating-pipe is located within the tank, for the purpose set forth.

17. The combination, with a barrel-support, and brushes for engaging the barrel, of parallel shafts, and two supporting-wheels eccentrically secured on one of the shafts, and a third supporting-wheel concentrically secured on the opposing shaft, the single wheel being opposite the space between the two wheels, as described.

18. In machines for cleaning barrels or kegs, or other articles, supporting-wheels for the kegs or barrels, arranged in triangular order, for the purpose set forth.

19. In a machine for cleaning barrels or kegs, or other articles, parallel shafts, supporting-wheels mounted on the said shafts, and a driving mechanism for one shaft, the wheel on the opposing shaft being driven by frictional contact with the object supported, for the purpose set forth.

20. In a machine for cleaning barrels or kegs, or other articles, parallel shafts, a pair ofsupporting-wheels secured to one of said shafts, a single supporting-wheel secured to the opposite shaft, and located opposite the space between the pair of wheels, and driving mechanism for the shaft carrying the pair of wheels, the single supporting-wheel being revolved by frictional contact with the object supported.

21. In a machine for cleaning barrels or kegs, or other articles, a receptacle, shafts mounted to revolve in the said receptacle, a pair of supporting-wheels eccentrically secured to one of the said shafts, and a single wheel concentrically secured to the opposing shaft, the single wheel being opposite the space between the pair of wheels, and means for driving the eccentrically-mounted wheels, the concentrically mounted wheel being driven by frictional contact with the object supported, as set forth.

22. A supporting-wheel for-barrels or kegs, or other articles, which wheel consists of asectional body and means for connecting the sections, the peripheral portions of the sections of the body having grooves therein,

which grooves when the sections are brought together, form a dovetail peripheral channel, and a tire having a rib adapted to enter the said channel in the body and be held to the said body by the fastening devices of the sections of the body, substantially as described.

23. In a machine for cleaning barrels, the combination with a tank, and tracks arranged therein,-of guides in the tank, and means for adjusting the guides, as and for the purpose set forth.

24. In a machine for cleaning barrels, the combination with a tank, and tracks arranged therein, of guides arranged in the tank, links pivotally connecting the guides with the sides of the tank and provided with handles, and means for locking the handles in position, substantially as described.

25. In a machine for cleaning barrels, the combination with hollow tracks, of angular stops having one member loosely and yieldingly held in the said tracks, substantially as described.

26. In a machine for cleaning barrels, the combination with hollow tracks, of angular stops each having one member projecting into the hollow tracks, and a spring secured to the said member and tracks, substantially as described.

27. In a barrel-cleaning machine, the combination with hollow tracks, and an elevating-table adjacent to one end of the tracks, of angular stops each having one member loosely and yieldingly mounted in the tracks and provided on its other member with a projection adapted to be engaged by the elevating-table, substantially as described.

28. In a machine for cleaning barrels, a brush, a rod with which the brush is connected by a universal coupling, and a casing Withih Which the rod is yieldingly held, substantially as described.

29. In a machine for cleaning barrels, a

brush, a rod to which the brush is connected bya universal coupling, a casing, and a spring coiled around the rod in the casing and hav ing one end secured to the rod and the other to the casing, substantially as described.

30. In a barrel-cleaning machine, a yieldingly-supported rod, a weighted brush connected to the rod by a universal joint, and stops for bringing the movement of the brush in one direction, substantially as described.

31. In a machine for cleaning barrels, a sprinkler adapted to support and enter a barrel, said sprinkler comprisingaconical inner casing connected with a Water-supply and having an outlet-opening in one side at the top, an intermediate casing mounted to turn on the inner casing and extending above the same, said intermediate casing being provided with two openings, one above and the other below the top of the inner casing and with a nipple at its upper end, and an outer casing mounted on the intermediate casing to turn therewith, said outer casing being provided in one side with a chamber registering with the openings of the intermediate casing and with arms at its upper end, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES J. DOBLER. 

